Signal device for indicating the location of submerged objects



April 9 c. H. SAVARY SIGNAL DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE LOCATION OF SUBMERGED OBJECTS Filed July 8, 1952 I5 I l5 I 5 I d l6--- I3'-- I 24 I H/ 32 7 a4 25 lO- 29 lo 14 3Q FIG. I. 33 FIG. 2

FIG. 3. INVENTOR CLARENCE H. SAVARY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1953 OFFICE SIGNAL DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE LOCATION OF SUBIVIERGED OBJECTS Clarence H. Savary, Marion, Ohio Application July 8, 1952, Serial No. 297,747

3 Claims. (Cl. 9--9) This invention relates to signal devices for in:- dicating'the location of submerged objects and more particularly to a signal device adapted to be attached to an object and including a float and means efiective to release the float a predetermined time after the signal device has been submerged in water.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a signal device which can be easily secured to an object, such as a fishing rod, outboard motor or bait pail, or to the person of a swimmer, fisherman, workman or other, and will indicate the under water location of an associated object or person after the object or person has been submerged a predetermined period of time; which includes a body, a float releasably secured to the body and means responsive to the presence of water for releasing the float from the body; which requires a period of submersion of several hours before the float is released so that the device can be used in and near the water for an extended.

period of time without being operated to provide a signal; which is of small size and light weight so that it can be retained on an object or worn by a person without inconvenience; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, positive and effective in operation, and neat and attractive in appearance.

. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following 'description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: Figurel is a side elevational view' of a signal device illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on the line 22 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of an end member and spool constituting an operative component of the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. With continued reference to the drawing, the signal device comprises an elongated body In of cylindrical shape having a bore I l extending longitudinally and coaxially therethrough. The bore II includes a portion I2 at one end of the body In having a diameter only slightly less than the external diameter of the body, a portion I3 at the other end of the body having a diameter less than the diameter of the portion I2 and a portion I4 of restricted diameter between the portions I2 a d [3. A float I5 of buoyant material, such as cork, and having a bullet shape is mounted on the body In at the end of the body to which the portion I3 of the bore II opens and a stem I6 is secured at one end to the float I5 and extends through the portions I3 and I4 of iii) 2 Y the bore II, being provided within the portion I of the bore with a transverse aperture or recess I! the purpose of which will presently appear.

The end of the body ID to which the portion I2 opens is closed by a screw cap I8 threaded into internal screw threads provided at the adjacent 1 end of the body and a spool I9 is disposed between and journaled on a pair of legs 20 and 2| which extend from the screw cap I8 inwardly of the portion I 2 of the bore in the body III in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other.

A flexible line 22 is wound on the spool I9 and secured at one end to the stem I6 at the end of v the item remote from the float I5, as indicated a 2 A coiled compression spring 24 is disposed within the portion I3 of the bore II and surrounds the stem I6 between the inner end of the portion I3 of the bore II and the adjacent end surface of the float I5 to resiliently urge the float away from the body I0.

A boss 25 projects laterally from the body II). at the inner end of the bore'portion I2 and encloses a chamber 26 which extends into the adjacent portion of the body and communicates with the restricted portion I4 of the bore II through an aperture 21 in the body III. A latch pin 28 extends from the chamber 26 through the aperture 21 and has one end engaged in the recess I! in the stem I6 to hold the float I5 adjacent thev corresponding end of the body". I0 against theforce of compression spring 24. A flat head 29 is provided on the end of the latch pin 28 remote from the stem I6 and a screw plug 30 is thread e of the latch pin and resiliently urges the'latch pan into engagement in the recess I! of the stem A sleeve 32 of hygroscopic material, such as Wood or paper, surrounds the latch pin 28 between the head 29 of the pin and the inner end of the chamber 26 and this sleeve, when submerged, for several hours, will expand s'ufiiciently'to move the end of the latch pin remote from the head 29 out of the aperture or recess I! in the stem I6 and free the float I5 for movement away from the body ID by the spring 24. After the float has been moved clear of the body, it will rise to the surface of the water from a submerged position, winding enough of the line 22 ofi of the spool Is to rest on the surface of the water.

A loop or staple 33 is. secured to and extends outwardly from the end plug 18 for attaching the device to an object or to a person and it is to be understood that other fastening means may be provided as may be found convenient or desirable, without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention.

Apertures or ports 34 extend through the wall of the boss 25 at angularly spaced locations around the boss to admit water to the chamber 26 for expanding the hygroscopic cylinder 32 when the device is submerged in water and the float I5 is preferably brightly colored or provided with a luminous coating so that it can be easilylocated on the water.

With the signal device attached to an object or body, if the object or body remains submerged in water for a length of timesufficient to expand the sleeve 32 of the device, the float will be released and will rise to the surface of the -water thereby indicating the location of the submerged object or body. The device may be used near or in the water for an extended period of time, however, withoutthe float becoming released from the body it requires an extended period oi time for the hygroscopic sleeve 32 to. expand scription and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore intended to be embraced therein.

' What is. claimed is:

l. A signal device comprising an elongated body having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a float of buoyant material disposed on one end of said body, a stem secured at one end of said float and extending through the The present here of said body, a spool journaled in said body,

a. line wound on said. spool and connected at one and tosaid stem, a compression spring in said body bearing against said float and resiliently urging the latter away iromsaid body said stem having arecess therein at a location spaced from said float a latch pin mounted in said body and engaging in the recess in said stem to hold said float adjacentthe corresponding end of said. body against the force of saidspring, a latch spring,

carried. by said body and engaging saidlatch pin at one end. to said float and extending throughthe bore of said body, a spool journaled in said body, a line wound on said spool and connected at one end to said stem, a compression spring in said body bearing against said float and resi liently urging the latter away from said body, said stem having a recess therein at a location spaced from said float, a latch pin mounted in said body and engaging in the recess in said stem to hold said, float adjacent the corresponding end of said body against the force of said spring, a latch spring carried by said body and engaging said latch pin urging the latter into engagement in the recess in said stem, and a sleeve oi hygroscopic material surrounding said latch pin and expansible upon submersion in water to move said latch pin out of engagement with said stem and free said float for movement away from said body, the bore in said body including an intermediate portion of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said stem and end portions of diameters greater than the diameter oi said intermediate portion one receiving said compression spring and the other receiving said spool. 1

3. A signal device comprising an elongated body having a. bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a float of buoyant material disposed on one end of said. body, a stem. secured at one end to said float and extending through the bore of said body, a spool journaled in said body, a line wound on said spool and connected at one end to said stem, a spring in said body bearing against said float and resiliently urging the latter away from said body, said stem having a. recess therein at a location. spaced from said float and said.- body having means providing a chamber extending perpendicularly from said here and communicating with the latter at the location of the recess in said. stem, a latch pin disposed in said chamber and having one end engaging in the recess in said stem and a headon its other end, means closing the end of said chamber remote from said bore, a latch spring disposed between the head of said latch pin and said means closing the outer end of said chamber resiliently urging said latch pin, into engagement in the recess in said stem, and a sleeve of hygroscopic material surrounding said latch pinbetween said head and the inner end of. said chamber and expansibleupon submersion in water to-move said latch pin out of engagement with said pin and free said float for movement away from said body. CLARENCE H. SAVARY.

References Cited in the file of this patent nnrrsn scares PATENTS H Great Britain NOV. 3, 1892 

